Roy
Nelson and Matt
Mitrione spent six weeks under the same Sin City roof in 2009
as part of the cast for Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” but
their paths never crossed inside the Octagon. Thanks to an injury
to Shane
Carwin, that will soon change.

A former
International Fight League champion, Nelson tipped the scales
at 252 for his showdown with Mitrione (257) in
“The Ultimate Fighter 16” Finale headliner on Saturday at the
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The wheels for their
matchup were set in motion when the hulking Carwin sustained a knee
injury while training in November.

Tristar Gym representative Mike Ricci
(171) and the once-beaten Colton
Smith (170), who will collide in “The Ultimate Fighter” Season
16 welterweight final, also met their mandated weight requirements
without incident at Friday’s official weigh-in.

Mitrione has spent his entire six-fight career with the UFC. The
34-year-old Springfield, Ill., native has not fought since falling
from the ranks of the unbeaten in a unanimous decision defeat to
French kickboxer Cheick Kongo
at UFC 137 in October 2011. A gifted athlete with nimble feet and
heavy hands, Mitrione played defensive tackle at Purdue University
and spent parts of six seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota
Vikings and New York Giants. He will have a three-inch height and
nine-inch reach advantage against Nelson.